Improvement in heating box-irons



F. STICHBURY.

HEATING BOX IRoNs.

Patented Jan. 2,1877.

WZz esse@ @raw FREDERICK STICHBURY, 0F LEYTON JEVVIN CRESCENT, CITY ASSIGNOR TO MGBRYDE 6L CBR, OF

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEATING BOX-IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,984, dated January 2, 1877; application liled September 19, 1876.

'of an improved construction of iron, in which a mixture of gas and air may be consumed for heating the iron, the object being to maintain the required heat therein with certainty and at a very small cost.

The gas and air a-re mixed on the Well-known principle ofthe Bunsen burner, in a chamber y situated at the rear end of the box-iron. The irons to be heated by the combustion of this mixture may vary somewhat in construction, to snit the special purposes for which they are required. For use in laundries attached to the manut'actories of linen collars, cuits, and similar articles ot' wearingapparel, I prefer box-irons constructed with two acting-surfaces, such irons being fitted to their handles, so as to be reversible-that is to say, the bottom may become the top, and vice versa. The terms bottom7 and top are, therefore, for the purpose of this specification, used relatively.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a divided reversible box or sad iron, suited for laundry-work. Fig. 2 is a plan view, with the upper half of the iron removed and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 1 2 of Fig. 1.

A and A are the two corresponding halves of the iron, connected together by means oi' screws, which pass through lugs a, cast with one halt' of the iron, and fitting into recesses made in the other halt' to receive them. B is a central axle, on which the iron is free to turn to bring the acting-surfaces alternately into use as they are heated. To this axle B the handle C is firmly secured. Fitted to one arm of the handle by a hinged joint is a springlever, D, which is connected to a bolt, el, that takes into holes made in the rear end ot: the iron, and thereby serves to lock it in position and preventits turning npoii the axle l. The rear end and larger diameter ot' this axlel 1s made hollow, and it terminates externally ofthe box-iron in a bnlhous extension, B1. This bulbous extension is fitted with an elbow, B2, which carries a gas-jet, b, that projects into the bulb B1. This bulb is pierced with holes b to admit air to the interior thereof', and gas is supplied thereto through the jet b by means ot a ilexible tube, B3, fitted to the elbow-piece Bz. ln this bulb the gas and air become mixed in the proper proportions for consumption in the box-iron. In the center of the bottom ot' each hall" of' the iron I make or cast a gasway or closed passage, c, Fig. 3, which may be of any suitable form. This gasway communicates, through a short passage in the back of the iron, with the interior o' the axle B. Through the cover ofthe passages c of the iron I bore any suitable number ot' line holes, and of any desired gage, for the issue of the mixture of gas and air to he consumed for heating the iron. The interior of each halt of the iroli, it will be understood, is constructed in a precisely similar manner. The mixed gas, as it leaves the bulb B1, passes through an opening made in the under side of the hollow portion of the axle B to the gas-passage c in that part only of the iron which, for the time being, forms the bottom hall", whence it issues at the holes above mentioned, as from a burner, to be coilsumed. 0n each side of the passage c I cast or otherwise construct a channel or groove, c', which communicates with the external atmos1 pliere by means ot' a number ot' holes drilled through or otherwise formed in the sides of each half of the iron. The holes in the bottoni half serve to admit air for supporting combustion, while those in the t ,p halt' serve as outlets for the products of combustion and for diffusing the heat rapidly and equally over the surface ofthe iron. This arrangement of circular holes coinmunicatng with these channels or grooves is such as to produce perfect combustion without any deposit of carbon, a steady atmosphere of dame llitg the interior of the iron, and not liable to be a'ected by the iron being moved about in working. To prevent the necessity for relight-ing the gas at every turn-over of the iron, which motion cuts oli' the gas from one passage c and admits it to the other, I bore holes in the sides of the hollow part of the axle B, as at e, Fig. 3, and thereby insure the maintenance of an ignited jet of gas, which will serve to light the several jets issuing from the pierced cover of the passage c ofthe heated half ofthe iron when brought into the position for working.

Having now set forth the nature of my invention, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claiml. In a boxiron containing two acting-faces, and formed with gas-passages c c, the hollow axle B, provided with a mixing-chamber, B1, and with apertures ee for sustaining the ame as the passages cc are alternately brought into communication with the interior of the axle B, substantially as set forth.

2. The divided double-faced box-iron A A', formed with longitudinal gaspassages c c, which are alternately brought into communication with the interior of the axle B, for the purpose of receiving a supply of mixed air and gas therefrom for heating the iron.

3. In a box-iron with double-acting faces, the combination ofthe longitudinal passages c c, communicating with the interior of the axle B, and the grooves and lateral passages c for supplying air to support combustion and serve as an exit for the products of combustion, substantially as set forth.

4.. In combination with the handle O and the double-faced boxron, mounted on a hollow axle, B, and provided with passages c c, arranged to communicate alternately with the interior of said hollow axle, the spring-bar D, connected at its lower end to a bolt, d, working in the handle, and adapted to engage in a recess in the iron, in order to lock the iron in proper position relatively to the hollow axle, substantially as herein set forth.

Dated the 29th day of July, 1876.

FREDERICK STIUHBURY.

Witnesses:

JNO. DEAN,

17 Graceclmrch Street, H. K. WHITE,

66 Chancery Lane. 

